Circular loom



Jan. 14, 1936. R YEADQN Y-@ CIRCULAR LOOM Filed Aug. 8, 1934 2sheets-sheet 1 Yawn/CW Rumi@ YEA DW Jan. 14, 1936. R, YEADN 2,027,459

C IRCULAR LOOM Filed Aug. 8, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 14,1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIRCULAR LOOM Application August 8,1934, Serial No. 738,892 In Great Britain August 31, 1933 10 Claims.

This invention is particularly concerned with the improvement or" meanssuch as those described in U. S. application S. No. 655,560 filed 7thFebruary, 1933, (British Pat. No. 396,757) for bringing to an endrelative circular motion between the shuttle or shuttles of a circularloom and the warps on jamming or breakage of the Warps, or, asdescribe-d in U. S. applications S. Nos. 672,379 filed 22nd May, 1933and 726,932 led 22nd May, 1934, in the event of weft breakage,- so as toavoid damage which would arise if the movement were allowed to continue.

According to the invention means are provided which comprise latchmechanism adapted on release to stop weaving by bringing to an endrelative motion between the shuttle or shuttles and the warp threads,electrically controlled latch releasing means, and an electric circuitincluding the latch releasing means and contacts adapt- 20 eded tooperate on breakage or jamming of the warp threads, or on breaking orabsence of the Weit thread, so as to control the circuit and thereby thelatch releasing means.

The release of the latch mechanism may serve to put into operationclutch means, the frictional action of which brings to an end rotationof one part of the loom with respect to another. Thus, a normallystationary part of the loom may be connected to a rotating part for bothto rotate together, or a normally rotating part may be brought to rest.Convenient and compact forms of clutch mechanism are described in detailin U. S. applications S. Nos. 655,560 and 706,321 led 12th January,1934.

The provision of an electric circuit enables the Idetection of breakageor jamming of the warp threads, or of breakage or absence of weit threadto be followed substantially immediately by cessation of weaving, andprevents damage arising from continuation of the weaving operation withbroken warp or weft threads. Again, the provision of electrical controlallows of great sensitivity of the thread detecting means, andthesimplicity of connection between the detection and stopping meansreduces the number of moving parts in the stop mechanism to a minimum.

The electric circuit employed for the purposes of the present inventionmay either be a closed circuit adapted to be opened in order to stop theloom, or vice versa. Of the two, the closed circuit is preferable, sinceit is better adapted to act rapidly.

When the loom employs a plurality of shuttles, each shuttle may beprovided with means for de- 55 tecting Warp breakage or jamming, andwith means for detecting weft breakage or absence, while contactsconnected in an electric circuit may be so positioned as to be operatedby movement of the thread detectors. The warp thread detectors may be oithe type described in U. S. application S. No. 655,561 led 7th February,1933, the slidable plunger rod described therein serving to operatecontacts placed in suitable relation to the rod, while the weft threaddetectors may be of the type described in U. S. applications S. Nos.672,379 or 726,932. The apparatus according to the invention may be usedin looms in which the warps rotate while the shuttles are maintainedstationary within the shed, or in looms in which the shuttles or theshuttles and the warps rotate.

By way of example, some forms of apparatus according 4to the inventionwill now be described in greater detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan View ofa section of a loom according to the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 show a detail of the detecting mechanism employed in theapparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a View, similar to Figure 1, of a different form ofapparatus according to the invention; and

Figures 5 and 6 show details of Figure 4.

In Figure 1 the shuttles 5 are caused to rotate while the warp threads(not shown) are stationary. The shuttles 5 are driven by means of Vanewheels 6 mounted in bearings 7. secured to a rotating circular plate 8,the vane wheels 6 being driven by means of gears 9 and Il).

In connection with each of the shuttles 5, an electric switch I I isprovided, adapted to be operated by means of a horizontal sliding rod I2carried by the shuttles, in a manner to be described hereafter. Theseveral switches II are connected in series round the loom by means ofsuitably insulated wires I3, the ends of the serie-s being connected atI4, I5 to a pair of slip rings I6, I'I. Stationary carbon brushes I8, I9are provided which 'make contact with the slip rings I6, I1, the brushI8 being connected to a source of supply of electric current 26, whilethe brush I9 is connected to an electromagnet ZI which in turn isconnected to the source of supply 2l).

The switches II are normally in a closed position so that there is aclosed circuit from the source of supply 2li through the electromagnet2I and the slip ring I'I, through all the switches I I in series andback through the slip ring I6 to the source of supply 28 again. Currentis therefore constantly flowing through the electromagnet 2|, wherebythe electromagnet is caused to attract and hold an armature 22 mountedon the end of a lever 23. The other end of the lever 23 is in the formof a catch 24 and is loaded by means of a spring 25. The catch 24 holdsthe end of a lever 26 loaded by means of a spring 21, the other end 28of the lever 26 being connected to the end of a brake band 29surrounding the outside of the rotating ring 8. The other end of thebrake band is anchored at 30.

On jamming of the warp threads, whether by reason of the breakage of oneor more warp threads or for any other cause, the rod |2 carried by theshuttle encountering the jam is pushed back and acts upon the tail 3| ofthe corresponding switch The switches are very light in operation, andeasily opened by the touch of the rod |2. The opening of any one of theswitches breaks the electric circuit and causes the electromagnet 2| tobe de-energized, so that the armature 22 is released. A small piece ofnon-magnetic sheet material 22 may be placed between the armature 22 andthe electromagnet 2| in order to minimize any time lag due to residualmagnetism. On release of the armature 22 the catch 24 is allowed to fryback under the action of the spring 25, releasingr the lever 26 so thatthe spring 21, acting through the lever 26, applies the brake band 29firmly to the outside of the rotating ring 8. In this manner, the brakeband 29 is applied almost instantaneously and the shuttles are broughtrapidly to rest. The drive of the loom may then be disconnected, andexamination of the switches shows immediately where the warp jam hasoccurred.

The manner in which the sliding rod |2 is operated is shown in Figures 2and 3. The shuttle 5 is provided with a warp feeler 35 which precedesthe shuttle and enters the warp shed before the body of the shuttle 5.The warp shed is initially formed by means of a shedding wheel 36 whichopens the warp threads 33, 34 slightly, after which the shuttle pushesits way between the warp threads and itself completes the shed dingoperation. The normal operation of the loom in the manner describedabove is illustrated in Figure 2. In Figure 3 the warp threads 33, 34are shown to be jammed at 31, as a result of which the Warp feeler 35,on encountering the obstruction, is pushed back and, being connected tothe rod I2, pushes the rod |2 back also. The rear end 38 of the rod |2is thus pushed through the warp threads 33 and strikes the tail 3| ofthe switch so that the contacts 39 of the switch are opened. In thismanner, the current which maintains the armature 22 in contact with theelectromagnet 2| and prevents the brake band 29 from being applied, isbroken.

In Figure 4 a section is shown of a loom in which the shuttles aremaintained stationary, being connected to a stationary ring by meanssuch as those described with reference to the rotating ring 8 in Figurel. A switch 46 is provided in connection with each of the shuttles 5,the switch 46 in this case being normally open. The switch 46 is formedof a U-shaped strip of metal which may easily be sprung so that its end42 contacts with a point 43, closing the switch. The metal strip isrendered more iexible by being bent into a wave form at 44. The switch46 is shown more clearly on a larger scale in Figure 6.

Each switch 46 is connected at 41 and 48 to two wires 49 and 5|) carriedby the stationary ring 45, so that the switches in this case areconnected in parallel instead of in series as in Figure 1. The wire 49is connected to a slip ring section 5|, while the wire 50 is connectedto an electromagnet 52, the other end of which is connected to a secondslip ring section 53. The slip ring sections 5| 53 are connected bymeans of carbon brushes 54, to al source of supply 69 of electriccurrent. The whole of the electric mechanism described above, that isthe switches 46, wires 49, 58, slip ring sections 5|, 53 andelectromagnet 52,-is mounted on the stationary ring 45.

A rotating ring 56 which rotates with the warp threads is providedinside the stationary ring 45, and a brake band 51, secured at one end58 to the stationary ring 45, surrounds the rotating ring 56. The otherend 59 of the brake band 51 is secured to a spring 60 attached to thestationary ring 45, the spring 60 being prevented from pulling the brakeband 51 in contact with the rotating ring 56 by means of a lever 6| heldin position by a latch 62.

The mechanism controlling the lever 6| is shown more clearly in Figure5. The latch 62 is caught over a bar 63, and is capable of beingreleased by the dropping of a lever 64 under the action of a spring 65.The lever 64, however, is held up by means of a projection 66 on thearmature 61 of the electromagnet 52, the armature 61 being pivoted at68. The stationary ring 45 is held in position by means of a latch 10which is pivotally connected to a lever 1| mounted at 12 on a stationarypart of the machine.

Springs 13 and 16 are provided to keep the latch 10 in contact with aprojection 14 on the ring 45, the spring 16 being secured at one end tothe lever 1| and at the other end to a stationary part of the machine.The free end 15 of the lever 1| is so shaped as to be engaged by the endof the lever 6| and pushed outwardly by it so as to free the latch 18from the projection 14.

On breakage or jamming of the Warp threads, the rod 2 on the shuttle 5which encounters the obstruction, is pushed back in the manner describedwith reference to Figures 2 and 3, and causes contact to be made at thecorresponding switch 45. This closes the electric circuit through theelectromagnet 52 and causes the armature 61 to be attracted. The lever64 is thus released and pushes the latch 62 clear of the bar 63,allowing the lever 6| to move under the action of the spring 66. Themovement of the lever 6| acts on the end 15 of the lever 1| and causesthe latch 1D to be disengaged from the projection 14 so that the ring 45is free to rotate. At the same time, the movement of the lever 6|permits the spring 60 to apply the brake band 51 to the rotating ring 56so that the stationary ring 45 is caused to rotate with the ring 56, andrelative motion between the shuttles and the warp threads is brought toan end. The drive of the loom may then be disconnected at leisure.

The provision of the slip ring sections 5|, 53 allows relative motion totake place between the ring 45 on which they are mounted and thestationary carbon brushes 54, 55, and facilitates the adjustment of theloom on re-starting.

It will be noted that both in Figure 1 and in Figure 4, the contactpoints 39, and 42, 43 of the switches 46 respectively are disposed atsome distance from the warp threads, so that any sparking which mayoccur at these contacts ls not liable to burn the warp threads and sodamage the fabric being Woven.

In the case of weft breakage, the Weit detector device described in U?.S'. application ,S. Not '726,932 may be provided on each shuttle 5,which device, on release (on breakage or absence of weft thread) causesa jamming of the warp threads and serves to operate the rod I2 of thenlext succeeding shuttle, and accordingly tihe electromagnet 2| or 52,and latch releasing means. If desired, the pivoted weft feeler devicedescribed in U. S. application S. No. 672,379 may be used thepenetration of the warp threads by the pivoted member serving to operatethe rod I2 and accordingly the electromagnet 2| or 52, and latchreleasing means.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent s:

1. In a circular loom, latch mechanism adapted on release to stopweaving by bringing to an end relative circular motion between the weftinserting means and the warp threads, an electric circuit, electricallatch releasing means included in and actuated by said circuit, meansadapted to detect jamming of the warp threads, and contacts in saidcircuit adapted to be operated on actuatio-n of said detecting means soas to actuate the latch releasing means through said circuit.

2. In a circular loom, latch mechanism adapted on release to stopweaving by bringing to an end relative circular motion between the weftinserting means and the warp threads, an electric circuit, electricallatch releasing means included in and actuated on breakage of saidcircuit, means adapted to detect jamming of the warp threads, andcontacts in said circuit adapted to be opened on actuation of saiddetecting means so as to actuate the latch releasing means by breakageof said circuit.

3. In a circular loom, latch mechanism adapted on release to stopweaving by bringing to an end relative circular motion between the weftinserting means and the warp! threads, an electric circuit, electricallatch releasing means included in and actuated on closing of saidcircuit, means adapted to detect jamming of the Warp threads,

and contacts in said circuit adapted to be closed on actuation of saiddetecting means so as to actuate the latch releasing means by closingsaid circuit.

4. In a. circular loom comprising stationary warps and rotatingshuttles, latch mechanism adapted on release to stop the rotation ofsuch shuttles, an electric circuit, electrical latch releasing meansincluded in and actuated by said circuit, detector means carried by eachof said shuttles, and contacts in said circuit adapted to be operated bysaid detector means so as to actuate the latch releasing means throughsaid circuit.

5. In a circular loom comprising stationary shuttles and rotating warps,latch mechanism adapted on release to set the shuttles in rotation withthe warps, an electric circuit, electrical latch releasing meansincluded in and actuated by said circuit, detector means carried by eachof said shuttles, and contacts in said circuit adapted to be operated bysaid detector means so as to actuate the latch releasing means throughsaid cir--A cuit.

6. In a circular loom, latch mechanism adapted 5` on release to stopweaving by bringing to an end relative motion between the shuttles andthe warp threads, an electromagnet adapted to hold such latch mechanismagainst release, an electric circuit including said electromagnet,detector means l0 carried by each of said shuttles, and closed contactsin said circuit adapted to be opened by said detector means so as tobreak said circuit, de-energize said electromagnet, and release saidlatch mechanism. 15

7. In a circular loom, latch mechanism adapted on release to stopWeaving by bringing to an end relative motion between the shuttles andthe warp threads, an electric circuit, electrical latch releasing meansincluded in and actuated by said 2O circuit, detector means carried byeach of said shuttles inside the warp threads and adapted to act throughthe Warp threads, and contacts in said circuit outside the warp threadsadapted to be operated by said detector means so as to actu- 25 ate thelatch releasing means through said circuit.

8. In a circular loom, latch mechanism adapted on release to stopweaving by bringing to an end relative motion between the shuttles andthe warp threads, an electric circuit, electrical latch releasing meansincluded in and actuated by said circuit, a rod carried by each of saidshuttles inside the warp threads, detector means carried by each shuttleand adapted tol cause said rod to 35 penetrate the warp threads, andcontacts in said circuit outside the warp threads adapted to be operatedby said rod so as to actuate the latch releasing means through saidcircuit.

9. In a circular loom comprising stationary 40 warps and rotatingshuttles, latch mechanism adapted on release to stop weaving by bringingto an end relative motion between the shuttles and the Warp threads, anelectro-magnet adapted to hold such' mechanism against release, anelectric 45 circuit including said electro-magnet, detector meanscarried by each of said shuttles and closed contacts in series in saidcircuit adapted to be opened by said detector means so as to break saidcircuit, de-energize said electro-magnet and re- F lease said latchmechanism.

l0. In a circular loom comprising stationary warps and rotatingshuttles, latch mechanism adapted on release to stop weaving by bringingto an end relative motion between the shuttles and the Warp threads, anelectro-magnet adapted to hold such mechanism against release, a seriesof closed contacts, a slip ring at each end of said series, said sliprings being adapted to rotate with the shuttles, brushes engaging saidslip rings and 00 connecting said electro-magnet in series with saidcontacts, said detector means carried by each of said shuttles, saiddetector means being adapted to open said contacts so as to break thecircuit through said contacts and said electro-magnet and release saidlatch mechanism.

ROBERT YEADON.

Cil

